Describe the structure of and bonding in silicon and silicon dioxide
Silicon:
Silicon is the eighth most common element on earth by mass and has the symbol Si with an atomic number of 14. It has the electronic configuration of [Ne] 3s2 3p2
Silicon has a giant covalent structure, held together by strong molecular bonds.
It is commonly found in it's solid state and is used as a semi-conductor in micro controllers, resistors, diodes...
As it is a semi conductor, it readily shares and gives away it's four valence electrons, hence having many different forms of chemical bonding. This property hence also allows it to be made into Glass, Abrasives, Pottery and even Silly Putty.
It is an amphoteric oxide with an oxidation state of 1,2,3,4 (-1,-2,-3,-4). Silicon crystalizes in to a diamond cubic crystal structure as shown below: Silicon Dioxide:
Silicon dioxide has a chemical formula of SiO2 and is most commonly known as silica. Silica is most commonly found in nature as sand or quartz and is mainly used to produce glass.
Silicates often are found with a tetrahedral coordination, with 4 oxygens surrounding a silicon atom. That means in the case of silicon dioxide, it will share 2 of its electrons with another silicon dioxide molecule, just like in aluminum chloride.
Silicon Dioxide hence has many crystalline forms.
The table below from wikipedia lists them all:
Describe the structure of and bonding in silicon and silicon dioxide
Silicon:
Silicon is the eighth most common element on earth by mass and has the symbol Si with an atomic number of 14. It has the electronic configuration of [Ne] 3s2 3p2
Silicon has a giant covalent structure, held together by strong molecular bonds.
It is commonly found in it's solid state and is used as a semi-conductor in micro controllers, resistors, diodes...
As it is a semi conductor, it readily shares and gives away it's four valence electrons, hence having many different forms of chemical bonding. This property hence also allows it to be made into Glass, Abrasives, Pottery and even Silly Putty.
It is an amphoteric oxide with an oxidation state of 1,2,3,4 (-1,-2,-3,-4). Silicon crystalizes in to a diamond cubic crystal structure as shown below:
Silicon Dioxide:
Silicon dioxide has a chemical formula of SiO2 and is most commonly known as silica. Silica is most commonly found in nature as sand or quartz and is mainly used to produce glass.
Silicates often are found with a tetrahedral coordination, with 4 oxygens surrounding a silicon atom. That means in the case of silicon dioxide, it will share 2 of its electrons with another silicon dioxide molecule, just like in aluminum chloride.
Silicon Dioxide hence has many crystalline forms.
The table below from wikipedia lists them all:
Pearson symbol, group No.
hP9, P3121 No.152[12[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_dioxide#cite_note-11|]]]
hP18, P6222, No.180[13[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_dioxide#cite_note-12|]]]
oS24, C2221, No.20[14[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_dioxide#cite_note-trid-13|]]]
hP12, P63/mmc, No. 194[14[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_dioxide#cite_note-trid-13|]]]
tP12, P41212, No. 92[15[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_dioxide#cite_note-14|]]]
cF104, Fd3m, No.227[16[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_dioxide#cite_note-15|]]]
cF576, Fd3m, No.227[17[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_dioxide#cite_note-16|]]]
tP36, P41212, No. 92[20[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_dioxide#cite_note-19|]]]
mS46, C2/c, No.15[21[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_dioxide#cite_note-20|]]]
mS48, C2/c, No.15[22[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_dioxide#cite_note-21|]]]
tP6, P42/mnm, No.136[23[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_dioxide#cite_note-22|]]]
oP12, Pnc2, No.30[24[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_dioxide#cite_note-23|]]]
oI12, Ibam, No.72[25[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_dioxide#cite_note-24|]]]
oP, Pbcn[26[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_dioxide#cite_note-25|]]]